As much as it pains me to make this observation, todays game struck me as awfully reactive in nature. Whether it be driven from the coaches box or an unwillingness to follow direction by the players is difficult to determine.
Too often we tried to pinpoint passes within our offensive 50m only to have it picked off by one of the Crow's spare men. Dean reacted by manning up the spare man with an extra forward as we weren't able to capitalize with our spare backman up the other end.
Neil Craig then used another angle. When our forwards got sucked to the ball between the arcs, many of his defenders didn't follow them therefore creating that extra man (or men) once again in our forward 50. What it also meant was that we won the contested ball around the packs but often blazed away into the forward line to a contest stacked in the Crows favour. It took some time again to react and adjust.
Further, the way the ball was coming down in the first half gave our defenders little chance. Scott Welsh had his kicking boots on and made the problem look worse however Arch was getting wasted back there. It was no coincidence that as they game became a true one on one situation around the ground, ie no floaters, the contests needed hardness around them - enter Arch and Simmo - the momentum changes. Another reaction that almost got us over the line.
Okay, games ebb and flow. I also accept that Monday morning experts always have the advantage of hindsight.
Am I being too harsh here?
Cheers,
WR.
Too often we tried to pinpoint passes within our offensive 50m only to have it picked off by one of the Crow's spare men. Dean reacted by manning up the spare man with an extra forward as we weren't able to capitalize with our spare backman up the other end.
Neil Craig then used another angle. When our forwards got sucked to the ball between the arcs, many of his defenders didn't follow them therefore creating that extra man (or men) once again in our forward 50. What it also meant was that we won the contested ball around the packs but often blazed away into the forward line to a contest stacked in the Crows favour. It took some time again to react and adjust.
Further, the way the ball was coming down in the first half gave our defenders little chance. Scott Welsh had his kicking boots on and made the problem look worse however Arch was getting wasted back there. It was no coincidence that as they game became a true one on one situation around the ground, ie no floaters, the contests needed hardness around them - enter Arch and Simmo - the momentum changes. Another reaction that almost got us over the line.
Okay, games ebb and flow. I also accept that Monday morning experts always have the advantage of hindsight.
Am I being too harsh here?
Cheers,
WR.
